• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.130-133
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• 2009

The use of screening tests as part of a diagnostic work-up is common in domestic canine practice, but understanding of the diagnostic test characteristics and factors affecting diagnostic accuracy is not clear among clinicians. This article was aimed to provide clinicians with a better understanding on the selection of test kits and with a proper interpretation of test results using an example from heartworm(Dirofilaria immitis) studies. From the literatures, diagnostic accuracy varied depending on the kits: percent average sensitivity and specificity of ELISA antigen-detecting kits were DiroChek(Synbiotics, USA) 78.1 and 95.2, SNAP(IDEXX, USA) 66.3 and 98.1, and Solo Step(Heska, Switzerland) 69.5 and 97.5, respectively, while the values for three hematological methods(Modified Knott's, direct smear and capillary tube) ranged from 38.4 to 81.8% and from 96.9 to 100%, respectively. Furthermore, it was also reported that the prevalence of heartworm disease in domestic dog populations varied depending on the regions studied: 2.5-22.8% for microfilarial test and 2.2-66.3% by ELISA. The values of predictive values for positive(PPV) and negative(NPV) provide useful information to clinicians on the probability of heartworm infection, but the PPV and NPV are greatly dependent on the heartworm prevalence. This suggests that PPV or NPV values of a test should be interpreted carefully in different clinical settings. Practical methods on the interpretation taking into account heartworm prevalence were discussed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.88-93
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• 2016

Dirofilaria immitis is a filarial nematode parasite that causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in dogs. The purpose of this study was the development of real-time PCR assays for efficient detection of D. immitis. The D. immitis-specific primers confirmed in our previous study and a newly designed TaqMan probe were used for quantitative diagnostics. First, SYBR Green real-time PCR was performed using the specific primers and serially diluted genomic DNA or plasmid DNA, and melting curve analyses were performed after amplification. The melting curve showed one specific peak in each of the genomic and plasmid DNA reactions, suggesting that the primers specifically amplify the D. immitis cytochrome c oxidase subunit I gene. Comparison of SYBR Green and TaqMan real-time PCR using serially diluted plasmid DNA showed higher efficiency and specificity with TaqMan real-time PCR. The real-time PCR assays developed in this study will provide improved diagnostic methods to overcome the limitations of conventional diagnostic tools and facilitate more rapid and accurate diagnoses.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.334-338
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• 2012

A 3-year-old, intact male Pungsan dog was presented for a 2-week history of a non-weight-bearing lameness of left hindlimb with anorexia. The dog had no history of trauma, and never been routinely vaccinated or treated with heartworm preventatives. The complete blood count showed severe leukocytosis and neutrophilia with left shift. Serum biochemistry showed hypoalbuminemia, azotemia, and increased hepatobilliary enzyme activity. A canine heartworm antigen test was positive. Thoracic radiographs were consistent with heartworm disease as evidences by main pulmonary artery enlargement, right-sided cardiomegaly, and interstitial lung pattern. Echocardiography revealed pulmonary valvular regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension. Selective femoral arterial angiogram was performed, and bilateral femoral arterial occlusion was identified. The dog died after angiogram, and necropsy was performed. At necropsy, adult heartworm and a large blood clot were found within the lumen of left and right femoral artery. This case report describes an unusual migration of heartworm to femoral artery that caused hindlimb lameness.

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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• v.21 no.8
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• pp.497-499
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• 1985

Blood sample from 155 Korean Jindo dogs were examined for canine filariae, using the modified Knott test. Most of the blood samples were collected bet-ween 1 : 00 and 5 : 00 p. m. from July to November, 1984. Dirofilaria immitis was found in 19 ($12.

• 동물약계
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• no.90
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• pp.4-6
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• 2003

[ $\cdot$ ]동물약품 부가세 영세율 관련 자료 제출 $\cdot$닭 티푸스 예방약 사용용도 준수 철저 $\cdot$개 심장사상충 감염 예방 협조 요청 $\cdot$동물약사감시 행정처분 결과 홍보 $\cdot$판매실적 미보고업체 행정처분 조치 $\cdot$돼지콜레라바이러스 분양 승인 조치 $\cdot$국가검정 동물사 소독 관련 협조 요청 $\cdot$협회 제2차 이사회 개최 $\cdot$협회 제3차 이사회 개최 $\cdot$특수법인 가축위생방역지원본부 설립 $\cdot$농림부 및 검역원 인사 $\cdot$생물학적제제 알루미늄 캡 변경 협의 $\cdot$VIV China 2004 전시 희망업체 조사 $\cdot$전략물자 수출입통제 제도 안내 $\cdot$2004년도 병역지정업체 선정 신청 $\cdot$조합 2003년도 하반기 알찬거래선 선정 $\cdot$사랑의 닭고기 보내기 운동

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.311-316
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• 2009

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to collect data from the literatures reporting prevalence of canine heartworm (HW) infection in an effort to emphasize the preventive importance of the disease and to serve as baseline data for further studies related to the disease management. Fourteen studies regarding the prevalence of HW infection published during the 1996-2007 were identified using the meta-analytic approach, involving a total of 1,790 cases by microfilarial test and 3,277 cases by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) antigen test for adult worms. Data analysis was performed separately for pet and military dogs. The overall apparent prevalence of HW infection in pet dogs by microfilarial test and ELISA was 11.7% (183/1,563) and 16.5% (379/2,302), respectively (p < 0.001). No significant difference in prevalence by microfilaria and ELISA was observed between sexes whether assessed by data separately or pooled together. Compared to before 2000, the prevalence by microfilaria after 2000 has increased from 2.5% to 13.1% (p < 0.001), and the rate of adult worm has also increased from 9.9% to 20.3% (p < 0.001). The prevalence determined by ELISA was found to increase with age: 20.7% (n = 1,003) of dogs older than 2 years were positive, compared with 5.0% of dogs (n = 701) under 2 years of age (p < 0.001). Also, outdoor dogs showed significantly higher prevalence than indoor dogs (37.9% versus 3.4%; p < 0.001). For military dogs, the overall prevalence was 38.3% (87/227; 95% CI, 32.1 - 44.7%) by microfilarial test and 38.5% (375/975; 95% CI, 35.4 - 41.6%) by ELISA. This rate was significantly higher than that of pet dogs (p < 0.001). Occult infection rate of 37.5% and 66.7% was found in pet and military dogs, respectively.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.1
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• pp.64-70
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• 2019

Dirofilaria immitis (D. immitis) is a filarial nematode that causes cardiopulmonary dirofilariasis in dogs. In the late stages of infection, infected dogs show one or more symptoms and advanced heart disorder with perivascular inflammation. To detect D. immitis specifically and efficiently in the early stages of infection, a duplex TaqMan qPCR assay was developed based on previous studies using primers and probes specialized to detect D. immitis cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and dog glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). As positive controls, plasmid DNAs were constructed from D. immitis COI or dog GAPDH and a TA-cloning vector. Simplex and duplex TaqMan qPCR assays were performed using the specific primers, probes, and genomic or plasmid DNA. The duplex reaction developed could detect D. immitis COI and dog GAPDH in the same sample simultaneously after optimization of the primer concentrations. The limit of detection was 25 copies for the simplex and duplex assays, and both showed good linearity, high sensitivity, and excellent PCR efficiency. The duplex assays for pathogen detection reduce the costs, labor, and time compared to simplex reactions. Therefore, the duplex TaqMan qPCR assay developed herein will allow efficient D. immitis detection and quantification from a large number of samples simultaneously.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.85-87
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• 2001

A 3-year-old female jaguar (Panthera onca onca) died after having 1 day history of respiratory failure. At necropsy, the pericardial sac contained large amounts of cloudy fluid enriched with fibrin. Numerous yellowish nodules, which are variable in size and often confluent, are randomly scattered throughout the myocardium. Pasteurella haemolytica was isolated from the pericardial sac and myocardium. In the lung, severe pulmonary congestion, edema and vasculities with intralesional presence of heartworm were found. Therefore the cause of death in this jaguar is believed to be due to respiratory failure following concurrent heartworm infection and bacterial pericarditis and myocarditis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.545-550
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• 2002

The raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) may be infected by Dirofilaria immitis. However, there has been no report on dirofilarial infection in the raccoon dog in Korea. In this study, we report on D. immitis infection in two wild raccoon dogs captured in the Daejeon area. The two raccoon dogs were referred to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital, Chungnam National University for diagnosis of D. immitis infection. The modified Knott's test for the detection of blood D. immitis microfilariae was positive, and serological test (FASTest$^{(R)}$ HW Antigen ELISA kit, Diagnostik Mega Cor, Austria) for D. immitis was positive as well. Additionally, D. immitis microfilariae were differentiated from other microfilariae by using acid phrnphatase histochemical staining (Leucognost-SP$^{(R)}$kit, Diagncstica MERCK, Germany). The two raccoon dogs were necropsed and D. immitis infection was confirmed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.25-35
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• 1999

The prevalence of canine heartworm(Dirofilaria immitis) infection in 150 mixed-breed dogs(male : 54, female : 96) from February to December 1997 was investigated by using antigen test kit(ICT $GOLD^{TM}$ HW, Synbiotics, USA) based on immunochromatographic assay in Inchon city. Also, gross and histopathological findings of an antigen positive dog were carried out. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. Four dogs were positive from 150 tested dogs(2.7%). They were all more than 2 years old and infection rates in male and outdoor dogs was higher than those in female and indoor, respectively. Species of infected dogs were Pug(2) , German Sheperd(1) and Great-dane (1). 2. Regional infection rates were closely related with housing system in the city. 3. Pathological findings of antigen-positive dog was excessive enlargement, congestion and hemorrhage of lung and D immitis in heart and histologically hemosiderin, hypertrophy of pulmonary alveoli wall and irregular hypertrophy of pulmonary artery inner wall. Microfilaria was observed in pulmonary artery and arteriole, ventricle and splenic artery.